The Boston Celtics probably should have seen this coming.
Still smarting from the Christmas Day defeat on their home floor, the Toronto Raptors got their revenge on Boston, leading almost wire-to-wire and winning 113-97 with a huge night from veteran point guard Kyle Lowry.
The Philadelphia native dropped 30 points and 7 assists on the Celtics, with 20 points and 10 rebounds from big man Serge Ibaka. Shooting guards Fred VanVleet and Patrick McCaw added 18 points each, the latter 5 assists and 5 steals as well and the former 7 boards and 8 assists to give Toronto the win.
Boston had an atrocious night in terms of shooting, going just 21.9 % from deep and 39.7 % overall.
Led by point guard Kemba Walker with 30 points and wing Jaylen Brown with 17 points and 5 rebounds, the Celtics never found their shot. Jayson tatum went 3-of-7 from the field for 12 points, and Gordon Hayward 3-of-13 (including 1-of-7 from three) to score just 13.
“We just have to get back to the drawing board … We just have to get back to being ourselves.”
Our guys discuss how they can put an end to their recent defensive skid: https://t.co/W1SIdo6J3i
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 29, 2019
Veteran guard Marcus Smart shot 2-of-9 in his return from a severe eye infection, scoring only 7 points in 23 minutes.
The Celtics managed to get the score to within 3 points about halfway through the penultimate frame, but Toronto responded with an 8-0 run that ultimately sealed the deal.
In the end, the Raptors simply wanted it more — and Boston let them take it.
“We beat those guys two times already, and obviously a few days ago on Christmas,” observed Walker (via the Associated Press). “They definitely remembered that, of course. But those are the defending champs. They’ve got a target on their back, you know?”
“They’re the team to beat. They came in like they were the defending champs tonight,” added the UConn product.
The Celtics next face the Charlotte Hornets on the road for New Years Eve, with an early 3pm tip-off ahead of the evening’s festivities.